National ACRY/Diocesan News

2016

JOHNSTOWN, PA [National ACRY] - The Potomac A.C.R.Y. Chapter #25 is proud to be the hosts for the upcoming National A.C.R.Y. Convention, which will take place Labor Day weekend, September 2nd through the 5th, 2016 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center located in Bethesda, MD. The hotel is conveniently located on the Red Line of the DC Metro Area Subway System. The entrance to the subway (Metro) is literally at the corner of the hotel parking lot!
A room rate of rate $109 (+ tax) has been obtained which is an incredible rate for the Washington D.C. Metro Area!!!! These room rates are also secured for the day before/after the convention Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA [National Sr. ACRY]-- With the blessing of His Grace, Bishop Gregory, the National Senior ACRY is pleased to announce the first Sr. ACRY mission trip to Saint Herman’s House in Cleveland, Ohio in an ongoing effort in the ACRY to provide opportunities for hands-on mission work. With the success of ACRY Ambassador Daniel Coffman’s Real Break Trip to Saint Herman’s, the national board has decided to spend a weekend helping at the house.

Saint Herman’s House was founded in 1977 with the purpose to provide shelter, clothing and food to the homeless men of the greater Cleveland area. At any given time, they can house up to 28 men and provide more than 73,000 meals a year. Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA [National Senior ACRY] --- Each year the ACRY offers the following scholarship to ACRY members: Freshman, Sophmore, Junior, Senior/Metropolitan Orestes, Graduate, Trade/Technical, Seminarian and Mary Kay Wanchak Memorial. The deadline for ACRY Scholarship applications and recommendations is June 15th, which is fast approaching. Applicants are kindly asked to please check with those from whom they have requested recommendations that they were written and sent to the Scholarship Committee. Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA --- His Grace, Bishop Gregory has been informed that he has been invited to serve as a member the Ecumenical Patriarchate's official delegation at the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church, to be held from June 16-27 in Crete. For the first time in 1200 years, the primates of all 14 Orthodox autocephalous (or self-governed) Churches, along with more than 300 bishops and others, will meet to pray and discuss issues of common concern.
According to the official press release issued by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the composition of the delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is as follows:

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, President of the Holy and Great Council
His Eminence Archbishop Leo of Karelia and all Finland
His Eminence Metropolitan Stephanos of Tallinn and all EstoniaRead more...

On this great and glorious Feast of Pascha – the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, our hearts are filled with tremendous joy, our souls are transformed and we bask in the Light of Truth. This year I want to share with you some Paschal thoughts from St. Gregory the Theologian.

It is the Day of the Resurrection! Let us then keep the Festival with splendor, and let us embrace one another. Let us say Brethen, even to those who hate us, Let us forgive all offenses for the Resurrection’s sake; let us give one another pardon. Read more...

PHOENIXVILLE, PA ---On Saturday April 16, 2016, National Sr. ACRY President Kevin Coffman, at the Eastern Regional Diocesan Lenten Retreat, made a presentation on behalf of the National Sr. ACRY to Fr. Michael Chendorain, Pastor of St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church of Perth Amboy, NJ. for the benefit of the Fr. Michael Rosco Memorial, Habitat for Humanity Building Project.

Fr Michael received, on behalf of the parish, a check for $16,133.00 which represented the proceeds of the Diocesan Advent Mission Project that was spearheaded by the National ACRY. Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- [Diocesan Chancery] - Registration is now open for the Third Annual Diocesan Young Women's Encounter which will take place from Sunday, June 26th to Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Windber, PA.

This engaging experience, which is open to young women in our Diocese ages 12-18, will highlight how young women can live our Orthodox Faith and serve the Church with their own unique gifts. This year we are really looking forward to having Katrina Bitar with us. She is the YES North America Program Director (Youth Equipped to Serve) for FOCUS North America (Fellowship of Orthodox Christians United to Serve.) Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- With the blessing of His Grace, Bishop Gregory, the National Junior ACRY, as in previous years, calls upon all to help aid in the mission of our diocesan apostolate of Saint John the Compassionate, in the inner city of Toronto, Ontario. The National Junior ACRY hears the call from the hymns of the Great Fast/Lent and invites everyone to help fulfill this plea of the voice of the Church.

Members of the Junior ACRY had the opportunity to visit the Mission this past summer and witness Christ’s love, which labors through the Mission to minister to the needs of so many. Last year’s donation from the National ACRY along with a matching grant from the John C. Kulis Charitable Foundation was hand delivered by National President Josef Samilenko to Fr. Roberto on behalf of all who donated to the Lenten Project. The Project raised over $12,000.00 for the Mission last year. Read more...

WOODSTOCK, GA -- [National ACRY] Registration information is now online for the 2016 Metropolitan Orestes Memorial Bowling Tournament, sponsored by the National ACRY which will take place over Memorial Day Holiday weekend (May 27-30, 2016) in the Metropolitan Atlanta Georgia Area in Woodstock, Georgia.

Diocesan faithful and friends are cordially invited by His Grace Bishop Gregory along with Fr. Matthew Dutko and parishioners of St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church of Woodstock, GA to come spend an enjoyable weekend of bowling, Christian Fellowship and worship All are welcome and need not be ACRY members to take part. Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- With the setting of the sun and the celebration of Forgiveness Vespers this evening, the season of The Great Fast has been ushered in throughout our God-Saved Diocese and the Orthodox Church throughout the world.
This Holy Season, as His Grace, Bishop Gregory has reminded us in his Lenten Archpastoral Letter "is a time for self-examination and self-denial. We must take control of our lives and bodies with fasting in order to gain a greater awareness of our dependence on and relationship with God."
To assist the faithful in making the most of this holy season, additional resources have been added to our Diocesan Website. Read more...

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